Well just for fun, I spent my last two days off bouncing around a few RV dealerships to explore their inventory and see these new 2014 models.I had never noticed before, but a very good number of used coaches have their window seals creeping up in the corners on the outside, which is easy enough to push back into place . But I also noticed more than a few had their windshield seals creeping inwards significantly. One particular coach had a large enough creeping seal to actually deposit a quarter in and it goes into the cabin.obviously a great point of entry for water.is this a normal occurrence on these coaches? I mean they weren't very old, 2006 and newer.I have a 95 and my windshield seals don't appear to have moved at all.it wasn't one dealership either, all three I visited had similar issues.

Interesting observation. Of the coaches that you had seen this anomaly occuring, did you by chance note who the manufacturers/models of these coaches were?

mtrumpet wrote:Interesting observation. Of the coaches that you had seen this anomaly occuring, did you by chance note who the manufacturers/models of these coaches were?one in particular was a Fleetwood fiesta bunkhouse,the one with the large gap was a back lot 2000 airstream land yatch, still not TOO old.a lot of the models I looked at were merely out of curiosity, an didn't pay much attention to make/model. I want to say there was a Winnebago or two and some coachmen .I did have a chance to get into a new Thor outlaw c class, and was pretty horrified at the lack of quality, underbody service rust, and 175k price tag. Felt like a child did the finish work inside

Yes very common- the shrinkage is normal. UV rays all day will shrink the gaskets.

Double pane SIGI windows, which were used in thousands of different RV's, have a history of creeping seals. These are not repairable without taking the window apart and separating the two panes and redoing the window pane. This NOT the weather seal that keeps rain out but rather it is the seal that separates the two panes of glass in an insulated dual pane window. Since windshields are not double pane, any seal that is creeping on them would be the weather seal.

You mentioned windshields which is also a common problem. A few years back, my dad's 2004 Allegro had the windshield separate from the top. The hole was large enough to put your hand through. Seems like over time, the fiberglass shifts and the window doesn't. The only way to fix it is remove the window and reinstall it straight with the hole.

creeping seals on windows AND windshield? | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Hank_MI
Explorer
Apr 06, 2014
turbojimmy wrote:
Somewhat unrelated: the left rear window on my Allegro is letting water inside. I noticed that the rubber seal on the outside has a "creeping" seal in the corner, where it is leaking (looks like a rubber gasket pressed into the frame, all around the window). Is this why it's leaking? Or is there some other seal or drain that I should be concerned with?

May be the seal, pull it loose and fit it back into the corners. Also check the drain/weep holes in the bottom of the frame. They get plugged with dirt, bugs, etc. and won't drain. The water backs up and flows into the inside of the window.
Hank_MI
Explorer
Apr 06, 2014
mike brez wrote:
For dual pane windows with creeping seals Dave Root sells a kit Here

I think you're talking about a different problem. I believe the OP is referring to the rubber seal on the outside of the window, particularly the sliding half. It's a press fit into the frame. They shrink with age and pull in at the corners.

Pull the seal loose at the top where it ends and around the corners to the bottom. Then press it back in working your way from the bottom corner, to top corner and around. It may come up a little short at the top end but it's the side and bottom that you want sealed good.
et2
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
We purchased our 2013 Fleetwood Expedition new last July. I notice exactly what your talking about last fall at most all the windows, the seal in the corners on the outside of the window creeping out. I can push them back in place but they just come back out eventually. Personally I think it's a bad seal design and if the seal was a little thicker it probably would stay in place better.

We finally got it into General RV just today for some warranty work after this Awful winter here. I brought this up to the service advisor. They are going to look into it. We noticed the factory had all the seals cut short, as there is gap about 3/8" to 1/2" on each window where it does not completely cover the whole frame. In other words it doesn't but up against itself at both ends. The gap is also on the bottom so wouldn't that allow water in? Anyway, we'll see what they have it say.
LVJ58
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
For those on the West coast, here's a company that also repairs dual pane windows. We had our cockpit windows by Se-Gi repaired by Motion windows, did a great job.

http://www.motionwindows.com/

Good luck and safe travels...:)
wolfe10
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
mike brez wrote:
For dual pane windows with creeping seals Dave Root sells a kit Here

Here is another good option for turn-key repair in FL:
http://suncoastdesigners.com/

We had 4 of our dual pane windows redone by them this winter. Quite an operation, with 20 coaches in for resealing when we were there. Electric, water and dump station while you are in for repair.
mike_brez
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
For dual pane windows with creeping seals Dave Root sells a kit Here
LVJ58
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
Another good treatment for weather seals around windshield and other windows is to periodically apply some 303 Aerospace Protectant on the seals.

It also works well to extend life of the toilet flush valve seal. We still have the original seal in our 2000 coach. Every couple of months or so, I dump water out of bowl and spray some 303 around the seal and let it set a couple of days then replace water in the bowl.

Link to the product: http://www.303products.com/protectant/303r-aerospace-protectant-32oz.html
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Apr 05, 2014
Hers the stuff to use if your seal is going bad. Will last 25 years. We used it to seal fuel tanks on aircraft but it works wonders on windows and windshields.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/ac236b2.php?clickkey=1370771
gbopp
Explorer
Apr 04, 2014
About 5 years ago I had both windshields on our 96 Fleetwood Southwind reset.
The shop that did the work said the seals were coming loose because not enough sealant/glue was used at the factory when they were originally installed.
I've had no problems with the seals leaking or shrinking since the windshields were reset.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Apr 04, 2014
MinnCamper wrote:
Yes very common- the shrinkage is normal. UV rays all day will shrink the gaskets.
X-2, I'm dealing with this right now in my Winnebago after 4 winters sitting in the sun in Arizona. I'm doing a temp. patch on front window seal until some dry weather is in store then I'm going to have my entire front windshield seals completely replaced by a mobil tech at my house. If it ever stops raining here, the norm for March is 7 inches in a month, and we have had over 12 inches this past March (a new record high in rainfall since they began counting in 1890). But I'm glad it didn't snow in March!